The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 31, 2026
Filed:
Jun. 03, 2021
Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Jon F. Moss, Antioch, CA (US);
Louis D. Marzano, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Eric E. Kuo, San Jose, CA (US);
Kelsey D. Wirth, Cambridge, MA (US);
Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods of forming dental appliances with reinforcement ribs. Methods may include forming virtual ribs on a virtual dental appliance. The virtual ribs may be formed laterally across at least a portion of a lingual surface and a labial surface of the virtual dental appliance. A thickness from rib to rib of the virtual ribs may vary such that thicker one or more ribs are arranged to apply greater force in the one or more desired directions. Methods may include calculating a displacement of the one or more teeth of a virtual teeth model based on forces applied by the virtual dental appliance. The displacement may account for changes in the forces applied on the one or more teeth of the virtual teeth model that the virtual ribs provide. Methods may include forming a dental appliance from a polymeric material based upon the virtual dental appliance.